Tool holder



Jan. 28, 1958 B. J. BEvAN Toor.. HOLDER Filed sept. 11, 1953 ATTORNEYS United States Patent() TOOL HOLDER Bernard John Bevan, Highland Park, lll., assignor to Klenschmidt Laboratories, Inc., Deerfield, Ill., a corporation of Delaware Application September 11, 1953, Serial No. 379,601 12 Claims. (Cl. 279-14) The present invention relates to improvements in detachable handles adapted to hold any one of a set of tools of various sizes having similarly formed shanks and more particularly relates to improvements in detachable handles for tools having shanks of L-shape longitudinal configuration.

One of the most commonly used of such tools is the type of wrench used with the well known Allen or similar recessed head cap and set screws. These wrenches are conventionally of polygonal cross section and L- shape in longitudinal configuration and are manufactured in sets of varying sizes. These wrenches were originally intended to be use without a handle, but the recessed head cap screw and set screw are now widely used in many applications where they must be tightened to an extent not practical without a handle. Also in many instances such screws are located in areas that are inaccessible with an Allen wrench of normal length.

VIn addition to wrenches of this-general typeother` tools such as screw drivers, socket wrenches, angers, hand reamers and the like, are at times provided with shanks of L-shape longitudinal conguration. Examples of such tools and prior art holders therefore are illustrated in United States Letters Patents No. 2,346,364, issuedApril 1l, 1944, to L. H. Dowe for Tool'Handle, No. 427,460, issued May 6, 1890, to F. Chantrell for Tool Holder, No. 1,172,656, issued February 22, 1916, to Yorgensen for Wrench Holder, and No. 2,569,069, issued September 25, 1951, to l. Motel for Tool Holder.

VOne form of prior art handle for use with detachable tool members utilizes a shank milled to conform with the shank of the tool together with a pivotally mounted member and overlying tubular locking means. Such a tool holder is prohibitively expensive and may be used only with tools having a shank of given size.

A further form of prior art tool holder employs a relatively expensive multi-milled slotted tubular sleeve member cooperatively slidably on a milled and bored shank. This form additionally, requires several press fitted guide and lock pins and spring means for biasing the sleeve to a locking position, which results in a relatively complex expensive structure and materially increases the susceptibility of the tool holder to breakage. This form also may be used only with tools of one size.

The present invention is ldirected to an improved tool holder or handle for detachably holding tools having L-shaped shanks in a wide range of sizes embodying a minimum number of simple, inexpensively manufactured, structurally strong par-ts which permit quick and easy removal -or replacement of tools, and which positively holds the tools Ain the handle. V`

The tool holder of the present invention comprises a length of tubing having a hand grip or handle at one end and means at the opposite end for receiving the relatively short laterally extending leg portion of an L-shaped tool shank ,mounted withinlthe tube. Asleeve is tted into the tubing in cooperative relation with the tool and positively maintains the tool in a locked operative position with means on the sleeve cooperating with the tube to maintain the sleeve in its assembled position. The material for both the tube and sleeve of the improved tool holder is inexpensive tube stock which is readily available from standard supplies, and easily manufactured by a minimum number of simple drilling and sawing operations which materially lowers the cost of manufacture of the holder. The foregoing will be more fully understood from the detailed structure of the improved tool holder hereinafter to be fully described.

The principal object of the present invention is the provision of novel holders for detachably holding tools which perm-it rapid and easy attachment to and removal of tools having L-shaped shanks from the tool holder for tool replacement or storage.

It is a further object of the invention to provide improved tool holders for detachably holding tools consisting of a minimum number of simple inexpensively manufactured parts.

Still another object of the inventioin is to provide im-A proved tool holders adapted to securely hold a wide range of such tools of different shank sizes.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide improved tool holders comprising a simple mounting member for the shank of a tool and :a novel locking sleeve coaxially mountable with respect to the mounting member and tool to lock the tool on the member and provided with improved means for retaining the sleeve in its assembled position.

An additional object of this invention is to provide tool holders comprising a pair of hollow tubular members coaxially mountable with respect to each other and the shank of such a tool, and with improved locking means on each member for tixedly securing such a tool in the members.

These and other objects will become more fully apparent from the following description and appended claims when read in connection with the attached drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view showing the components of a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a partial perspective view of the tool and holder of Figure l in assembled condition;

Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the assembled tool holder shown in Figure 2;

Figure 4 is an exploded perspective view of a further embodiment of the novel tool holder of this invention;

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional View of the tool holder in Figure 4 shown in assembled position with a tool;

Figure 6 is a vertical sectional view showing the tool holder of this invention holding .a wrench; and

Figure 7 is a vertical sectional view similar to Figure 6 showing the tool holder of Ithis invention in assembled position with another form of tool.

Referring now to the drawing and particularly to Figure l, reference numeral 10 generally indicates a preferred embodiment of the improved tool holder of the present invention comprising metallic tubular member 12, of inexpensive readily available s-tandard tube stock, having an axial bore 13 therein. A conventional screw driver type handle 14 is attached to one end of tube 12 by rivet 15 which extends through the handle and tube 12 and is headed over at diametrically opposite sides of the handle. An aperture 16 is punched or drilled through the wall of tube 12 :adjacent its free end.

The preferred embodimentof the present invention will be described in conjunction with an L-shaped polygonal cross section tool, known generally as an Allen wrench for use with Allen recessed head cap screws and set screws, having an elongate shank portion 18 terminating 3 at-one end in short transversely or right angularly disposed leg pprtion 20 t Tubular locking sleeve 22 having axial bore 23 therein, is also manufactured from standard tubular stock` of an outer diameter just slightly lessthan bore-13l to permita sliding fit, of sleeve22' in bore 13, and iseut t-o predetermined length by a simple sawing` or turningA operation. One end of'sleeve 22 is provided with slot 24 extending diametrically: across theend. of the sleeve which may bei formed by a simple rotary sawoperation. SpringA arms 21S harmedI at opposite sidesof slot- 2 4, are bent slightly. outwardly or away from each otherl to give the slotted end of sleeve 22 a slightly greater diameter than;

bore. 13; The freeend ofl spring arms 25,A are` beveled or charnfered asat 2'1'.l topermit easy insertion o thev sleeve into bore 13 of tubular member 12, as will be hereinafter described. When sleeve 22 isV inserted' i'nto bore 13, arms. 25 due to their resiliency willi be cornpressedinwardly suf-ieientl-y-y to permit insertion of the sleeve 22. In the assembled position, as shown in Figure 3, these arms 25 are biased outwardly against the inner wall of tube 12 to` frictionally retain sleeve 22 within the bore.

To. assemble the foregoing described improved tool holder and tool as shown in Figures 2 and 3, the tooly is inserted into bore I3. off tube 1=2 with leg` 20 of the tool extending transversehI to bore 13 and into aperture 16,'. In some cases it may be necessary to cut oill a section ofthe leg. 20 of the tool to permit its insertion into` bore 13. Sleeve 22 iS then mounted' on shank 18 of' the tool' and slidably moved` tothe right, as viewed in yFigure 3, into.` bore 13Y of tube 12 unt-il' back edge 3l: of slot 24 abuts the leg 20 of the tool. Sleeve 2 2 is frictionally retained in this position by the enga-gement of the arms 25 with the bore 13.

In the assembled position, sleeve 22, which isy coaxially mounted iny bore 1.3- of tube 12 in surrounding relation to shank 18' of the tool and in frictionalengagement with the walls ofthe tube, serves to positively lock leg portion. 20 of the tool in aperture 16. Thus, the tool cannot be tipped-` or transversely moved in bore 13 and is. positively retained in a predetermined position in the handle.

The preferred embodiment of the improved tool holder of the present invention is unique in its simplicity, since it utilizes a pair of coaxially mountable smooth members. that require only a minimum of the simplest machining operations. As a result the improved' tool' holder of the invention is-smple-and inexpensive to manufacture and may be easily and' quicklyassembled and disassembled. Since the bore 23 iscylindrical the assembly may also be used with tools having cylindrical or irregular shanks.

A plurality of'sleevessimilar-to sleeve 22 having axial bores of different diameters may be provided` with tool holder to accommodate. a series ofA tools of Vdilerent shank sizes.

Referring now to- Figure 4 there is shown a further embodiment of the invention wherein tubular member 28', having an axially extending bore 30, is provided along its periphery with aplurality of' axially spaced` openings 32, 34 and 36 of` different sizes. A plurality of tubular sleeves 38, 40 and 41 ofthe same length but of different diameters are similarly provided with transverse diametral en d slots 42Y of the same depth. AsA is best illustrated in Figure 5, sleeves 38, 40and'41 are preferably of the same length and are adapted to be telescopically received one Within the other. In this manner, should a. tool of a relatively small shank size, such as tool 4.4, be. employed: with the novel1 tool holder ofthis. invention, the three sleeves` 3 8,j 40, and 41 canA be, telescopen. one within the other sof that` the. free. bore. of, thesmallest, sleeve 4,1, is` operable to receive the-,shank of` the tool with laterally extending; legportion 46.01? the tool extending through the.

aligned slots 42 of the respective sleeves and into smallest opening 32 in tubular member 28'.

Should it be necessary to, change from a small shank size tool to a tool of the next larger shank size sleeve 41 can be removed from sleeve 40 thereby increasing the opening in the telescoped sleeves to the next larger bore which is the bore of sleeve, 4,0,` to receive a larger size tool. The telescoped sleeves are slidable in bore 30, as heretofore described, and can be movedto a greater depth in bore 3Q to. enga-ge the. laterally extending, portion, of a4 tool; mountedv in opening 34 as indicated at 46," by phantom lines in Figure 5.

Similarly if a tool ofA even larger size similar to that illustrated in Figure 3 is used, sleeve 40 can be removed from sleeve 38, and the large: Size shank of the larger tool will be accommodated in sleeve 38 and opening 36, as clearly indicated at 46" by the phantom lines in Figure 5.

With this novel arrangementof telescoping sleeves, with similarl dept-h slots` 42, any number of sleeves can be telescoped" one withinthe other to be mounted in tubular, member`2-8 to accommodate tools from the very smallest to a relatively largesize. And, any number of openings such as openings 32, 34 and 36 can be provided in the periphery of tubular member 28 to accommodate the laterally' extending legI portion of the tool. Thus by merely employing a plurality of' inexpensively manufactured: tubular sleeves andl adapting tubular member 28 for dilferent tool: sizes by providingit with a plurality of transverse openings orholes similar to openings 32, 34 and 36', as illustrated in Figure 4, the novel tool holder of this inventionis capable ofaccommodati'nga wide range of tool slzes- As clearlyr shown i-n Figure 6 the novel tool holder o f this invention is applicable to tools other than the Allen wrench illustrated* in Figure 1-y as, for example, socket wrenches 48. In the embodiment illustrated in Figure 6, a wrench mounting member having a shank 50 and transverse end portion or legSZ is mounted in tubular member 12 in thel samemanner as shank- 18, and is locked therein by sleeve 22. Conventional detachable socket wrench heads- 48', cany then be mounted on the free end, or left hand end of shank 50'- as viewed in Figure 6.

A screw driver 54, or any other form of tool, provided with shank 56?V and transverse portion or leg 5,8 as illustrated-in- Figure 7V can beV similarly mounted in the novel tool holder of this invention in the manner heretofore described. It is to be understood that the embodiments of Figures. 6 and 7' can be made or modied to be like that shown in Figure 5' to accommodate a wide range of shank sizes.

From theforegoing it will be readily appreciated that there is herein provided a novel relatively simple tool holder for detachable tools that is quickly and easily assembled and disassembled, embodies a minimum` num; berof inexpensively manufacturedy structurally strong elements, assures, the application ofy sutlcient; force to the tool; forI a particular task, and elfectively and simply lengtheus the tool: to reach inaccessible locations.

The iuventionmay be embodied.y in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential' characteristis thereof.. 'Ihe present embodiments are therefore to beQQnStdeledinall respectsY as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appitlded,` claims rather than by.` the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range off equivalency of theclaims are therefore intended to be; embraced' therein.

Whltzis claimed andi desired to be secured byI United States LettersP-atentis:

1. A tool holder for tools having Shanks provided with a traneverse legy Comprising, a hollow member forl receiving the; Shanks: 0f' suchl at tool therein, means in said hollowy memberfon drivingly engaging` the transverse legl of,T the tool, and;y means mountable in said member inI coax-.leb relation. with said. member and: surrounding a portion of the shank of the tool therein to positively lock and glaintain such a tool in, and coaxial relative to, said mem- 2. The device as set forth in claim 1 together with means to retain said last named means in its assembled position.

3. In combination, a tool holder comprising an elongate hollow shank, an aperture in the hollow shank wall adjacent one end of the shank, a tool having an extended straight shank and an olset projection at one end, said one end being adapted to pass into said hollow shank and have the projection extending into said aperture with a close lit, and a hollow sleeve slidable over said tool shank and of sut`n`cient length and t to maintain the axis of said tool shank coaxial with the axis of said sleeve and passing into said hollow shank with a sliding t a suflicient distance to maintain the tool shank and sleeve axes coaxial with the hollow shank axis whereby the tool shank projection will be maintained in interlocked engagement with the wall of said hollow shank and the tool will be a substantially coaxial projection of the hollow shank.

4. A tool holder as defined in claim 3 and means for holding said sleeve within said shank.

5. In combination, a tool holder comprising a hollow shank provided with a series of apertures of different size, a tool selected from a series of tools each having a transversely extending leg, said tool being individually inserted in said shank with the leg engaging one of said apertures, at least one of a plurality of hollow sleeves each adapted to selectively receive a particular size tool of said series mounted within said hollow shank in surrounding relation to a portion of such tool, and means for holding the sleeves within said shank to thereby lock said tool in said tool holder.

6. A tool holder for detachably holding tools comprising, a pair of smooth hollow tubular members adapted to be mounted in coaxial relation with respect to each other, a tool having an elongate portion and an offset portion, means on one of said members adapted to drivingly engage said offset portion of said tool mounted in said one member, the other member being adapted to surround said elongate portion of the tool to maintain said offset portion in driving engagement with said means and thereby lock the tool in said one member, and means on said other member to frictionally engage said one member to retain said other member in said one member.

7. A tool holder for tools having L-shaped shanks comprising an elongate tubular member having a handle secured at one end and an aperture extending through the wall adjacent the other end for engaging one leg of the shank of such a tool when mounted in said tubular member, a hollow sleeve adapted to be mounted in said tubular member in coaxial relation between said member and the shank of such a tool when mounted therein, and spring arms at one end of said sleeve to frictionally engage said member and lock said sleeve in said member.

8. A tool holder for a tool having a shank of L-shape in longitudinal `configuration and comprising an elongate tubular member having a handle at one end, at least one aperture adjacent the other end of said member for drivingly engaging a transversely extending leg of the shank of such a tool when mounted in said member, a sleeve having a coaxial bore and iusertable into such member in surrounding relation to a portion of the shank of such a tool within said member, said sleeve being adapted to thereby maintain said tool shank substantially coaxial with said tubular member and lock the leg of such a tool in said aperture in said member.

9. A tool holder for tools having elongate shanks with a substantially transverse leg at one end of the shank comprising an elongate tubular member having a handle secured at one end and an aperture through the Wall adjacent the other end for engaging said leg of such a tool when mounted in said tubular member, a hollow sleeve adapted to be mounted in said tubular member in coaxial relation between said member and the shank of such a tool when mounted therein, and resilient means at one end of said sleeve to engage said member and retain said sleeve in said member.

10. A tool holder comprising a smooth elongate member having an axial passage for receiving a shank of a tool to be held in said tool holder, at least one opening in said member transverse to said passage for receiving a transverse leg portion of the shank of a tool mounted therein, a handle secured at one end of said member, hollow means having an outside dimension to permit a coaxial sliding close it of said hollow means in said member and an inside dimension to slidably receive,

with a close fit, the shank of the tool mounted in said,

member to retain said leg in said opening and thereby lock the tool in said member.

ll. A tool holder comprising an elongate member having an axial passage for receiving a shank of a tool to be held in said tool holder, at least one opening in said member transverse to said passage for receiving a transverse leg portion of the shank of a tool mounted therein, a handle secured at one end of said member, hollow means comprising a plurality of sleeves each having an axial bore and being telescoped one within the other and the outermost sleeve having an outside dimension to permit a coaxial sliding lit in said axial passage and the axial bore of the innermost sleeve receiving the shank of the tool mounted in said member to retain said leg in said opening and thereby lock the tool in said member whereby a predetermined plurality of said sleeves can be telescoped together to accommodate a particular size tool shank.

12. The device as set forth in claim 11 wherein said sleeves are provided with aligned slots at one end, the sides of said slots being bent outwardly slightly so that each sleeve frictionally engages the sleeve in which it is mounted and the outermost sleeve engages the sides of the axial passage to thereby retain said sleeves within one another and in said member.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,110,202 Crane Mar. 8, 1938 2,384,525 Beverly Sept. ll, 1945 2,569,069 Motel Sept. 25, 1951 2,726,091 Topar Dec. 6, 1955 

